49ERS VS SEAHAWKS Seahawks' Lynch has a mouth to match his bruising style

Updated 11:53 pm, Thursday, December 20, 2012

Last December, Seattle's Marshawn Lynch became the first 100-yard rusher against the 49ers in more than two years.

Last December, Seattle's Marshawn Lynch became the first 100-yard rusher against the 49ers in more than two years.

Photo: Kevin Casey, Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is tackled by Chicago Bears safety Craig Steltz (20) and linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato) less

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is tackled by Chicago Bears safety Craig Steltz (20) and linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 2, ... more

Photo: Kiichiro Sato, Associated Press

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Marshawn Lynch has averaged 11.5 yards per carry and scored four TDs in blowout wins over Arizona and Buffalo (above).

Marshawn Lynch has averaged 11.5 yards per carry and scored four TDs in blowout wins over Arizona and Buffalo (above).

Photo: Mike Groll, Associated Press

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SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 09: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 9, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 58-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) less

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 09: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 9, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated ... more

Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images

Lynch has been nemesis of S.F. defense

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In the 49ers' first meeting against the Seahawks this season, safety Dashon Goldson received an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty and subsequent $7,875 fine for standing over Marshawn Lynch and taunting the Seattle running back.

For those familiar with the Pro Bowl runner, this surely inspired a question: What in the world was Lynch barking back at Goldson?

As San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis noted earlier this season, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound bruiser has a motor mouth to match his mauling style.

"After I've tackled him or he might have broken a tackle, he'll say, 'Man, why are you trying to tackle me that hard? C'mon, man, I thought we were boys. You can't be tackling me like that,' " Willis said. "I'll just look at him like, 'Why are you talking to me right now? We're playing against each other. Talk to me after the game.' "

Entering Sunday night's game in Seattle, the 49ers are well aware that Lynch's actions have often spoken just as loudly as his many words when he has faced their long-respected run defense.

In five career games, Lynch has three 100-yard performances against San Francisco. For perspective, consider the 49ers, when not facing Lynch, have allowed five 100-yard rushers in 62 contests since the Cal alum first played them Nov. 30, 2008.

Last year, he became the first running back in 37 games to rush for 100 yards against San Francisco and the first in 16 games to post a rushing touchdown during a 19-17 loss in Week 16. On Oct. 18, he picked up where he left off, collecting 103 yards and averaging 5.4 yards a carry against a rushing defense that ranks third in the NFL in yards allowed (91.1) and yards per carry (3.6).

"You've got to bring your feet with Marshawn and wrap him up," Goldson said. "He's a big, strong, compact running back. He's got the mentality that the first guy is never going to tackle him. ... He's definitely one of the toughest backs in this league. It's going to take all 11 of us to get him down."

Lynch will enter Sunday's game at perhaps the peak of his powers against a defense that could be without All-Pro tackle Justin Smith, who missed his second straight practice Thursday with an elbow injury.

The Seattle back, who ranks second in the NFL in rushing, has established career highs in yards (1,379) and 100-yard games (eight) while averaging a career-best 5.1 yards a carry. In his past two games, he has rushed for 241 yards, averaged 11.5 yards a carry and scored four touchdowns as the Seahawks have routed the Cardinals and Bills by a combined 91 points, the largest margin of victory in a two-game span since the 1941 Bears.

"The guy's just a hell of a back," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "... He's definitely, the last two years, the toughest back we've gone against and our guys have a lot of respect for him."

Those players include Goldson, a Washington alum who played against Lynch in college, and safety Donte Whit- ner, who was his teammate in Buffalo for two-plus seasons. Willis met Lynch when they worked out at the same training facility to prepare for the 2007 NFL combine.

Five years later, the No. 12 overall pick is realizing his potential after averaging 594 rushing yards in 2009 and '10. Since Week 9 of the 2011 season, Lynch leads the NFL with 2,320 yards, 315 more than his closest pursuer.

"He's always been a good runner," Willis said, "but he's taken it to a new level the last two years."

Struggling to tame Lynch

The 49ers have allowed eight 100-yard rushing games in 76 games dating to September 2008. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle's leading rusher and Sunday's opponent, has accounted for three.

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